Good idea. Because often they get lazy about electrical consumption otherwise (ie they have no incentive to be careful) and it gets abused. How about giving him a budge of $100 a month and about 12 free CFL lightbulbs ?

Superintendents should be proactively working with both their managing agents and boards on methods of further slimming expenses within their control in balance with service levels expected. If a building’s board with a $1mm operating budget isn’t experiencing them coming forward with cost-savings ideas, directors wouldn’t be thinking twice about his/her electric bill (unless you have a penchant for thinking “Green” which is valid in its own right). As water finds it own level, in time, so do supers and boards who will pair off appropriately; the unqualified super and the petty board, the qualified super whose always challenged yet appreciated by their community. Perfection isnt obtained though it's sought.

Sally, it does not matter if your a lazy super or a lazy CEO, the fact of the matter is if your not happy make a change. Resident's like yourself are the reason why you loose a good super. No good super with self respect is going to put up with your non-sense. We get called at all hours of the night, when we are out with our familes we retreat back to the building to do the right thing, we make repairs that are not our or the buildings responsibility for the simple reason that we just want to SHUT YOU UP SO YOU COULD GET OFF OUR BACK!!! And all the building politics we put up with and issues that do not concern us but we do the right thing for the interest of the building and the residents and now you want to nickel and dime the super for less then$60 a month is a spit in the face if that super had any self respect he would high tail out of there and allow you and the board to search and find a person WHO YOU AND THE RESIDENTS trust to live with you keep your spare keys and for less then $60 a month you want to create a negative atmosphere. All I can say is that I hope it comes back to you!! but your probably so misreable and lonely, and you know what they say misery loves company....

Anonymous would make a better point if he weren't so bitter, angry and full of invective. I, for one, would never want to have a time bomb like this guy "liv[ing] with ... your spare keys."

We're all cutting back. I'm a working, white-collar professional, and I've even cut back on things like the $20 a month HBO was costing me. I'm shopping at a less expensive supermarket several blocks away from the more expensive one nearby. If this super can't understand that a building may have to cut back as well, then I say cut him loose before he slits the board president's throat in the night.

And tell me, Anonymous: How do you justify the super who kept his AC going 24 hours a day? There's no need whatsoever for that when no one's in the apartment. I'd love to hear what possible rationale you can offer for that.

First let me ask a question, is there a electrical meter on the superintendents apartment? I know some buildings that the electricity is tapped off of the main building panel to connect the superintendents apartment (if the apartment is on the first floor.

Just how much electric is he using? It sounds pretty petty to do this, you say your not happy with his/her performance, what happens when you get rid of the superintendent and hire a GOOD superintendent, are you going have him/her pay for the electric? Just when does it stop?

A few years and supers ago, when we took a look at the Supers elect bill. In the summer he ran the AC 24/7. We put a cap on the electric bill, and he decided that he did not need to cool his apartment while he was away. We have also now limited the Phone bills, cancled the Supers parking garage and are finding many ways to cut back.
We are a small middle-upper calss building. We now have over 8 owners who have lost jobs, or seen retirement funds almost dissapear -- we are getting very serious about looking for ways to save money -- which may include reducing the staff.

We personally like our super, and he does a good job. Howere, we are having to take a hard look at our overhead. The Super
lives in a 2-br apartment that would rent for over 3500 a month, considers this a 9-5 job, and is away on weekends. If there is an emergencey, the DM calls the Management Emergency number, and they send someone over. No matter what anyone says, this is a cushy job -- that pays very well. VP

A conscious super should not be abusing services provided to him, but if he and his family seems to be using more than usual, you may wish to sit down with him and explain operations. I believe everyone knows their wallet or have a sense of it.


If you cap it, it should be at a reasonable amount. If you have an independent account for the apartment, you may get a history of consumption and may come to a good understanding of what would be reaonsable in this case.

Finlly, just because the super is underperforming, this should not be a bargaining chip. Try to promote him to the position he deserves if he does not amend his behavior.

AdC

I work as a Resident Manager for a very well known firm. As a resident manger/superintendent which ever title suits you best. It is in OUR own interest to take these issues very serious. Just as we are trusted to watch over the very building that we work for, we also must not take for granted what we have as every employee should. If your current super is not up to par with the board and the direction it would like to see the building go in. Then maybe the board should make a change and if that is not an option yet. Then maybe your managing agent and your super should have their job descritpions given to them as what each of them needs to be doing on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Such as maintenance, repairs, gather information for the board and supervision (walk through) and follow up phone calls/e-mails etc. I am sure that the board can think of many ways to get the results that you would like to see. If not then maybe he should be given an ultimatum. If he is abusing his utilities, i would suggest that the most DIPLOMATIC board member sit him down and express the concerns that the board has. I believe that this is the best way, for the simple reason that he will see that the board is very serious about this and he will also be on alert that the board does see things and that they do investigate. I believe that he will either change his ways rather quickly for better that is if you outline the issues and the expectations. If he does not well you already know what the next option is.

How about if the apartment is metered, let the Resident Manager contact Con Edison and have the account switched to his/her name, then the coop/condo don't have to worry about how much electric they are using. Just a thought.